Tag Archives: believe

People have been using cell phones for nearly two decades. Every year they develop cell phones that do more things than the last one. One of the latest cell phones developed is called a smart phone. A smart phone is usually used for communication. We talk to friends; we make purchases from someone or some place; we read the latest news about our favorite people, organization, town, or state. We can even look at social media to communicate with our ‘online’ friends.

When we purchase a smart phone, we need to ‘activate’ the phone. In other words, we need to prepare our phone to communicate with the ‘cell tower’ that will relay the communication between our smart phone and the people with which we want to communicate.

On the smart phone there are several ‘folders’ or icons that we can tap. When we tap one of them, it will open several ‘apps’ files. For instance, we may see an icon that says something like ‘play store’. In play store you will find several games you can download, or you will see special kinds of applications that you may want to use. You may also find ‘widgets’ in the apps files that you can use to give the time, temperature, weather alerts, calculators, etc. These little helpful things are supposed to make you more productive. When you click on these icons, they will install on your phone. Some of them will require activation and some will not require activation.

When God made man, he gave man a heart. The basic function of the heart is to communicate with the various organs of the body. This communication is done by circulating blood through the body.

The heart is also designed to communicate with people and with God. Our heart, like our cell phone is activated for communication. The cell phone communicates through cell towers and the heart communicates through the spirit.

Because Adam and Eve ate of the forbidden fruit, they were given a communication package called ‘sin.’ God determined that every person born would have that communication package.

18 But the things that come out of a person’s mouth come from the heart, and these defile them.19 For out of the heart come evil thoughts—murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander. Matthew 15:18-19(NIV)

Because of Jesus death and resurrection, God placed a new folder on our heart. The name of the folder is ‘Hope and Restoration’ and is identified by the cross icon. It is installed on your heart, but it needs to be activated. It will require your approval to be activated. God will not force His communication on your heart against your will.

If you want the full benefit of the ‘Hope and Restoration’ apps, you must install all of the apps available in that folder. However, it is possible to pick and choose which ones you want. But remember that failure to install one of these apps will allow some of the default apps to stay active. When installing the ‘Hope and Restoration’ apps, it is recommended that you use your Wi-Fi (Wholesome information For intimacy) connection. When you activate the ‘Hope and Restoration’ folder, you will also receive a free upgrade in service. This upgrade includes the Holy Spirit plus unlimited text and messaging.

In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans.27 And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God. Romans 8:26-27(NIV)

In addition to receiving the Holy Spirit, you will also receive a virus protection plan. This plan is called your conscience. When false information comes your way, the Holy Spirit can block it before it ruins your heart. The Holy Spirit will help keep your heart and mind pure and free of corruption.

Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed.He will also keep you firm to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.9 God is faithful, who has called you into fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. 1 Corinthians 1:7-9(NIV)

“Can you hear me now?” Was a phrase that one cell phone service provider used to show people that where ever they went, they would still have cell phone service. With the Holy Spirit providing your heart communication service, you will never be out of communication with God. In Matthew 28, Jesus promised his followers that he would never leave them; He would be with them for eternity.

The ‘Hope and Restoration’ folder can be activated from anyplace. In the Old Testament people had to make a sacrifice on an altar, but the cross became the last altar that was needed because Jesus was our ultimate sacrifice. He died for the sins of the whole world: past, present, and future. And because of this sacrifice, we do not need to go to an altar, a church, or a pastor. The Holy Spirit can activate the ‘Hope and Restoration” folder right where you are. It is activated by believing that Jesus died for you sin. There is no specific prayer that needs to be prayed. However, the relief of the burden of sin being lifted from your back may cause you to thank God for sending His son to pay the price of your sin; or you may want to thank God for adopting you into His family as one of His children; or you may want to share the good news with some friends; or you may just want to thank God for loving you. The requirement is to believe in your heart that Jesus died for you. Because He died for you, your relationship with God can be restored to what it was before Adam and Eve sinned. The default apps can be deleted!

As you continue to study God’s Word as written in the Bible, the Holy Spirit will help you to understand what God is telling you. He will also show you how to use the ‘Hope and Restoration’ apps in the folder to make you a better person. Someday Jesus will come back to take you to your heavenly home to live with Him. Then you will be able to talk face to face with your Redeemer.

This offer is a limited time offer. It must be accepted before your life on earth ends. God is calling, “can you hear him now?

NOTE: Scripture quoted in this blog were downloaded from www.biblegateway.com

Joseph was a very special child to his father Jacob. However, to his brothers he was a ‘daddy’s boy’. He was also a dreamer and was having dreams that indicated he would be rulers over his brothers. In fact Jacob had a special, colorful robe made for Joseph. Of course, this made his brothers jealous.

The brothers obviously didn’t believe Joseph. In fact, Genesis 37 tells of how the brothers treated Joseph. As you recall, Jacob sent his son Joseph to check on his older brothers who were herding the family sheep.

When the brothers saw Joseph coming, they decided this would be a good time to get rid of this dreamer for good. The plan was to throw him into a pit to die. But then some Midianite merchants came by and they decided to make some money on the deal and sold Joseph.

They needed a story to tell Jacob, so they took Joseph’s coat of many colors and dipped it in blood. They could show Jacob the blood and tell him that a wild animal must have killed him. For several years this seemed to have done the trick.

Well the Midianite merchants sold Joseph to one of Pharaoh’s officials. However, after a series of successes and upsetting trials along the way, Joseph was made governor of the land. (Genesis 42)

Jacob was faced with a drought and sent his older sons to Egypt to buy grain. What the brothers didn’t know was that Joseph was the person they were to buy grain from. However, Joseph recognized his brothers and asked about Benjamin and he wanted to see Benjamin.

After Joseph worked out a scheme to get all the brothers together, he told them who he was. He forgave his brothers and was united with his family again. He then invited his family to come live in Egypt until the drought had passed. Joseph was indeed ruling over his family.

There was another family that had a special son with four half-brothers. But this family had sons that were conceived by Joseph and a special son, who’s name was Jesus that was conceived by the Holy Spirit. (See Matthew 1:16)

We don’t hear a lot about these brothers but Matthew 13:55 indicates that Jesus had four half-brothers, James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas.

These brothers were no different than Joseph’s brothers. We read in John7:2-5(NIV):

2 But when the Jewish Festival of Tabernacles was near,3 Jesus’ brothers said to him, “Leave Galilee and go to Judea, so that your disciples there may see the works you do. 4 No one who wants to become a public figure acts in secret. Since you are doing these things, show yourself to the world.” 5 For even his own brothers did not believe in him.John7:2-5(NIV)

There came a day when Jesus sent his son into the world to check on his children. They didn’t believe who he was. The wanted to get rid of him because he claimed to be the Messiah. They crucified him on a cross. Jesus was put into a grave, just as Joseph was thrown into a pit. But God raised Jesus from the dead and put him in a place of leadership, in the same way that Joseph was taken from the pit and placed into leadership.

For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance[a]: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Cephas,[b] and then to the Twelve.6 After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. 7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles,8 and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born. 1 Corinthians 15:3-8(NIV)

You see, Jesus appear to his brother James after his resurrection and James realized who Jesus really was. As a result of James believing who Jesus was, he became a pillar in the church, and wrote the book of James. This small book of James talks about temptations, warning the world of sin, and telling them to follow Christ. In fact, James was martyred in AD 62, because of his faith in Christ.

We can be born and raised in a Christian home, but that doesn’t guarantee we will believe. Everyone must come to a point in their life where they see Jesus for who he is and what he has done. We can be brothers but until we accept Christ personally, we are blind to the truth just like the brothers of Joseph and Jesus were blind to the truth.

Are you suffering from a ‘drought’ in your life? Perhaps now is the time that you need to turn to Christ and accept the gift that he has for you? God’s desire for you is to restore you to a place of fellowship with Him. He wants to give you love, peace, and hope. Are you ready?